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October 09, 2021

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GMSDC names 2021 Spirit of Alliance Awards honorees

The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council recently held its 39th Spirit of Alliance Awards, which honor individuals, small businesses, corporate and government entities for their contributions to supplier diversity and minority business development in the state.

The 2021 Spirit of Alliance Awards stayed true to its celebratory roots in achievement, tribute and recognition. The nominees, winners and the Blue Legend recipient represent the best and brightest minds in the business and ongoing advocates of progressive minority supplier development in the Peach State.

The 2021 Spirit of Alliance Awards honorees are:

Corporation of the Year – AT&T Inc.

This award recognizes the GMSDC corporate or government member-partner that demonstrates a commitment to the Council, minority business development and equal economic access through its minority procurement or supply-chain program.

Local Corporation of the Year – UPS Inc.

This award recognizes the GMSDC local corporate or government member-partner that demonstrates commitment to Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, minority business development and to equal economic access through its minority procurement or supply-chain program.

Executive of the Year – Jose Turkienicz, UPS Inc.

This award recognizes the CEO, president or senior vice president of a GMSDC corporate or government member-partner that consistently demonstrates support for minority business development, corporate spend, financial support of the Council’s programs and initiatives. Additionally, the Executive of the Year operates as an integral force in their organization’s minority supplier diversity efforts.

The George Lottier Rising Star Award – Emory University
This award recognizes the GMSDC corporate member whose supplier diversity program is active for less than three years and has significantly impacted the growth of supplier diversity within their organization. A Rising Star corporation has effectively taken proactive measures to advance and expand the presence and capacity of minority business enterprises within their organization. 

Advocate of the Year – Adam Moore, Truist Financial Corp.

This award recognizes the individual (i.e., supplier diversity coordinator, manager or director) whose contributions to minority business development have long-term, positive effects. This individual is an active participant with GMSDC and a catalyst that openly demonstrates specific efforts to advance minority business development.

Supply Chain Advocate of the Year – Valerie Ramsey, Grady Health System
This award recognizes the supply chain leader (director/manager level) that has purchasing responsibility and supply chain personnel direct reports. The Supply Chain Advocate of the Year can be a manager, director or such title of a GMSDC corporate or government member-partner that consistently demonstrates support for minority business development, corporate spend, financial support of the Council’s programs and initiatives. Additionally, the Supply Chain Advocate of the Year operates as an integral force in their organization’s minority supplier diversity efforts. 

MBE Advocate of the Year – Montina Young, CIA Media Group LLC
The award recognizes the certified ethnic minority business whose contributions to minority business development have long-term, positive effects. This company is an active participant with GMSDC and a catalyst that openly demonstrates specific efforts to advance minority business development.

Awardees are individuals who advocate for minority business and positively impact the MBE community by working to educate decision-makers, the public and the media and/or affecting policy through effective advocacy at the local, state and/or national levels. Awardees are effective influencers and have a sustained commitment to collaboration, innovation, engagement and demonstrated leadership of the MBE community.

Crystal Award – Fifth Third Bank

The GMSDC Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee made up of the Council’s certified minority business owners presents the Crystal Award. This award goes to the GMSDC’s corporate or government member-partner that publicly demonstrates commitments to minority business development through their programs, corporate spend and aggressive procurement opportunities.

Eagle Award – Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts

This award is given to the minority business enterprise constituent who has demonstrated a commitment to transacting business with other certified GMSDC minority business enterprises through promoting and creating business opportunities for economic development, job creation and the advancement of minority business development in the state of Georgia. The recipient is a certified MBE in good standing with the Council, and during the previous two calendar years utilized the products and services of other GMSDC MBEs. In addition, the recipient:

1.    Conducted business with GMSDC MBE by forming alliances and/or partnerships to provide products and/or services to corporate or government organizations.

2.    Participated in and supported the Council’s events and activities.

3.    Demonstrated a consistent track record in GMSDC’s MBE 2 MB spend.

Buyer of the Year, Information Technology – Rich Rubino, UPS Inc.

This award is for a corporate member-partner (i.e., buyer or procurement professional) responsible for providing active contracts to GMSDC’s certified or reciprocal services MBEs in the information technology field during the preceding calendar year.

Buyer of the Year, Professional Services – Elizabeth Anne Rhody, Southern Company

This award is for a corporate member-partner providing active contracts to GMSDC-certified or reciprocal service MBEs in the professional services field during the preceding calendar year.

Buyer of the Year, Staffing Services – Adam Moore, Truist Financial Corp.

This award is given to a corporate member (i.e., buyer or procurement professional) responsible for providing active contracts to GMSDC-certified or reciprocal service MBE in the staffing services field during the preceding calendar year.

Buyer of the Year, Transportation & Logistics – Donna Farrow, Grady Health System
This award is given to a corporate member responsible for providing active contracts to GMSDC-certified or reciprocal service MBEs in the transportation and logistics services field during the preceding calendar year. 

Buyer of the Year, Construction & Facilities Management – Ivan Mann, Grady Health System, and Demetrious Ward, Southern Company Gas
This award is given to a corporate member (i.e., buyer or procurement professional) responsible for providing active contracts to GMSDC-certified or reciprocal services MBEs in the construction and facilities management field during the preceding calendar year.

Supplier of the Year, Class I – Charlette Wynn, P3 Delivery
This award recognizes a GMSDC-certified MBE with annual sales less than $1 million that consistently provides quality products and exceptional service to its customers.

Supplier of the Year, Class II – Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts
This award recognizes a GMSDC-certified MBE with annual sales between $1 to $10 million that consistently provides quality products and exceptional service to its customers.

Supplier of the Year, Class III – Parth Patel, Six Consulting Inc.

This award recognizes a GMSDC -certified MBE with annual sales between $10 to $40 million that consistently provides quality products and exceptional service to their customers.

Supplier of the Year, Class IV – Sanjeev Tirath, Pyramid Consulting Inc.

This award recognizes a GMSDC-certified MBE with annual sales of over $40 million that consistently provides quality products and exceptional service to their customers.

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